By Renee Clark Quade | Photos by Rebecca Clark

Buffalo, NY – April 4, 2025 was a day of metal music and a celebration of the legendary band Disturbed. A night of thunderous nostalgia, searing emotion, and blistering metal as Disturbed marked 25 years of The Sickness with a powerful stop on their anniversary tour. The KeyBank Center shook with energy as the band performed their iconic album in full, bringing fans straight back to where it all began, with fists in the air and voices screaming every word.

But before the headliners took the stage, Disturbed set the tone with two phenomenal openers: Nothing More and Daughtry, each bringing their own intensity to the night.

Nothing More wasted no time captivating the crowd. Opening with the ethereal intro title track “Carnal” from their latest album as the the band erupted into “House on Sand,” with frontman Jonny Hawkins shirtless and painted in silver and black, a striking visual echoing his primal energy. Hawkins stomped the stage barefoot, commanding attention with every move. The band ripped through “Angel Song,” “If It Doesn’t Hurt,” and fan-favorite “Go to War,” before soaring into the emotion-drenched “Jenny,” where guitarist Mark Vollelunga moved by their drummer, Ben Anderson’s side for a unique intro.

Nothing More’s bassist Daniel Oliver is one of the most passionate performers we’ve seen, bouncing across the stage, locking eyes with fans, and pouring every ounce of energy into his playing, especially during their latest single ‘Freefall,’ where he looked completely immersed by the music. “Ballast (This is the Time)” saw the band venture onto the catwalk, drawing fans in with their stage presence before closing the set in epic fashion. With instruments roaring just inches from the barricade, Oliver, Vollelunga, and Hawkins got up close and personal with the crowd, climbing ladders and playing face-to-face with fans. Jonny hammered away on a set of drums held steady by the front row, turning the moment into a raw, rhythmic battle cry that had the whole place fired up.

Next up was Daughtry, shrouded in moody blue lights as they opened with “Reckoning.” Chris Daughtry, still as vocally powerful and emotionally charged as ever, launched into “Changes Are Coming” and “World on Fire,” kneeling to get closer to the crowd. He introduced a brand-new track, “The Day I Die,” off his upcoming EP Shock to the System: Part 2, delivering it with raw grit and honesty. The crowd erupted during his cover of Journey’s “Separate Ways,” with everyone on their feet singing along. He took things back to his roots with “It’s Not Over” and a stripped-down, phone-light-soaked version of “Home.” He continued with “Pieces,” “Heavy is the Crown,” and wrapped with “Artificial.” After singing his last note Daughtry filmed the crowd with his own phone, capturing a moment that clearly meant as much to him as it did to us.

Then came the main event.

As the house lights dropped, a massive sheet with a projector played a montage of Disturbed’s past, clocks ticking, old live footage flashing, and finally the unmistakable artwork of The Sickness. When the curtain rose, the crowd roared as frontman David Draiman was wheeled out in a straight jacket, flanked by a dystopian metal stage setup that looked part factory, part nightmare.

The band launched into “Are You Ready,” then steamrolled into “Stupify” and “Fear” with relentless force. Draiman, ever the showman, had the crowd in the palm of his hand from the very first breath. Before “Meaning of Life,” he emerged in an orange prison suit, chains clanking, and was led to an electric chair at the end of the catwalk. When Draiman was asked if he had any last words, he responded with a wicked smirk and two defiant middle fingers, just before being “electrocuted” in a blazing, over-the-top theatrical moment that felt ripped straight out of a horror flick. The fans loved every minute of it.

Guitarist Dan Donegan and bassist John Moyer have a powerful dynamic on stage, their chemistry is undeniable, always in sync musically and visually, feeding off each other’s energy while engaging with fans in a way that feels more like a brotherhood than just bandmates.

After a short break, they returned for a second set that celebrated the rest of their storied discography. Draiman, now cloaked in a long leather coat, launched into “I Will Not Break,” followed by crowd anthem “Ten Thousand Fists.” During “Bad Man,” a massive, menacing figure from their Divisive album artwork known as “The Guy” inflated, rising to dominate the back of the stage and eerily swaying as if alive. Cloaked with fiery eyes and tearing through metaphorical chains, “The Guy” has long served as Disturbed’s iconic mascot is a symbol of rebellion and resistance woven throughout their artwork and music videos. Seeing him tower over the stage brought that legacy to life in dramatic fashion.

Disturbed tore through “Land of Confusion” (a Genesis cover that never fails live) and the crushing “Indestructible,” Draiman raising his fist like a call to arms. Throughout the show, flames burst through towering scaffolding, while vivid visuals danced across embedded screens.

One of the night’s most stunning moments came during “The Sound of Silence.” A fiery piano (Donegan played) and drums rose from the end of the catwalk, joined by string players as chandeliers of fire lit up the stage in gothic grandeur. Draiman’s voice soared through the arena, haunting and powerful, the visual atmosphere adding weight to every note.

During the whole night drummer Mike Wengren was a beast behind the kit, kicking off the show by standing tall to hype the crowd and then locking in with thunderous precision all night. His presence was just as commanding as his playing, proving he’s a true badass behind the drums.

Before closing with “Inside the Fire,” Draiman asked the crowd to light up their phones during “The Light,” and as the arena glowed, he paused between lyrics to take it in: “This is so beautiful,” he whispered. It was.

The night ended in an explosion of pyros and emotion, a true grand finale.

Disturbed proved once again that they are master performers, storytellers, and keepers of metal history. And what better way to honor The Sickness than to bring it to life, louder and more unrelenting than ever?

Buffalo won’t forget this night. And neither will the fans who grew up screaming those songs in their bedrooms, fists in the air, ready for whatever came next.

Disturbed Photo Gallery

Daughtry Photo Gallery

Nothing More Photo Gallery